Hanaa Ben Abdesslem and Amerpal Lamba on their wedding day. Photographed by Julian Torres for Vogue Arabia
On July 26, Tunisian supermodel and Vogue Arabia’s former cover star Hanaa Ben Abdesslem got married to long-time love Amerpal Lamba in her hometown. The couple was engaged earlier this year in March when Lamba asked Abdesslem to marry him in snowy Zermatt, Switzerland. Recalling the first time they met each other Lamba said, “Hanaa and I first laid eyes on each other at a charity event at Villa d’Este in Lake Como. We were introduced through our mutual friends and on our first date, I told her, ‘You are going to be my wife.'”
Of her engagement, the elated model had taken to Instagram to say, “Out of all of my fingers, this one is now my favorite! It sure does have a ring to it… Never thought I could experience such joy until I met you. You have opened my heart to a new part of life, making it complete. I say yes to you my darling, I say yes to life, to an endless love.”
Lamba also revealed how he selected his bride-to-be’s engagement ring. “The ring was made for Abdesslem by Van Cleef & Arpels at their Mayfair branch. It is set with a diamond so exquisite, it is representative of Hanaa’s beauty.”
On July 25, the wedding festivities began with a henna ceremony at the historic house of Dar El Gaïed joined by the bride and groom’s close friends and family, including Egyptian actress Salma Abu Deif, and Tunisian couturier Ali Karoui. For the henna ceremony, Abdesslem was dressed in a traditional Tunisian outfit, one worn by her mother on her wedding day.
On the evening of her wedding day at the La Badira Hotel, the model walked down the aisle with a dainty bouquet in her hands, dressed in a golden wedding dress created by Tunisian designer Ahmed Talfit and jewelry by De Grisogono. Abdesslem’s hair was done in an elegant up-do, covered by a long chiffon veil in gold, dazzling with sequins.
Showing pride in her origins once again, Abdesslem also wore the traditional Dokhla outfit, from the Nabeul region of Tunisia. The dress was made from real gold and handmade by local artisans for just over a year.
Abdesslem first made waves in the Arab world in 2012, when she became the first Muslim to lend her face to Lancôme‘s international campaign. She was also the first Arab model to be featured in the Pirelli calendar (a glamour trade calendar published by the brand’s UK subsidiary). Besides being a muse for Azzedine Alaïa for many years, she has also graced the runways for some of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses like Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and Thierry Mugler.
Videography: ParAzar Productions
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